Plains enjoys large turnout

Bigger is better when it comes to track and field.

The more athletes you have the better it is for so many people in so many different ways. Just ask Plains track and field coach Denis Montgomery, who says 25 Plains student-athletes, 14 boys and 11 girls, are out for this year’s team.

“It has been a really fun spring, this is biggest track and field team Plains has had in years,” she said. “And the kids have been great, willing to try new events and working really hard in practice.”

Making that work pay the most handsomely, senior Jessica Thompson, the defending State C champion in the shot put and in the discus, has continued her prolific throwing career in track and field, while also holding down a varsity spot on the Plains-Hot Springs softball team this spring.

Thompson, in fact, was named Most Valuable Performer in the girls’ throwing events at the MCPS Invitational in Missoula Saturday, marking an impressive 40 feet, 3.5 inches in winning the shot put and 135-7 in winning the discus, also taking sixth in the javelin with a best throw of 114-11 in that specialty.

Montgomery said Thompson recently told her that she will be attending BYU on a track scholarship, where she will be joining older sister Leah, the current all-class Montana high school record holder in the discus.

“Jess is really focusing in on her events, working out hard and is just so strong,” Montgomery offered. “BYU is awfully lucky to be having both Thompson sisters on that team, I’ll tell you that.”

Kara Altmileer and Rachel Huenink are two other quality throwers that Montgomery feels could be difference-makers this season, as area Lindsay Laws and Audrey Brown, in the javelin in particular.

Not accustomed to having all that many boys out for track and field, Montgomery is thrilled to have 14 on the team this spring.

Led by her two returning State C meet qualifiers in Sinjin LaDeaux (in the jumps) and Rusty Stuart (in the throws), she sees potential from the rest of her young boys squad as well, and throws out the names of Conrad Vanderwall, Tucker Foster and Malachi Paulsen as a few examples of that potential.

“This is a young team, we will only get better,” she said, “and we still have some high-quality assistant coaches to help them along.”

James Jermyn returns to coach the shot put and the discus while newcoming coach Rheanna Fultz, who was a standout track and field performer for Thompson Falls High School while named Rhe Padden not that long ago, is coaching the javelin and helping out with other events when able.

Montgomery doesn’t know if her latest teams will be in the fight for post-season team honors, but knows that the athletes she has will keep striving to improve no matter what.

“This is a really good group of kids that will only get better with practice,” she said. “We are looking forward to the rest of the season.